1. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
WHY
4/10/2002

2. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
SCOPE
This training meets or exceeds the intent of applicable sections within NFPA 1500, Standards on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. It also intends to meet requirements of Guidance Note 6-11 – Rapid Intervention Teams as well as LTES SOG 211
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

3. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Purpose
Personnel assigned to perform this function will be designated as the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT).
The composition and structure of the RIT shall be flexible depending on the type, size and complexity of the incident.
Level 1 RIT will consist of no less than two trained members.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

4. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Personal Accountability Report (PAR)
Report given to Command or Operations that all members of the crew are accounted for.
Periodically completed to check on personnel.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

5. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Personal Accountability Report (PAR)
Example
“Accountability to Sector 2 – PAR check”
“Sector 2 to Accountability we are PAR w/four.”
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

6. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Level 1 RIT
A team consisting of a minimum of two trained members.
Duties are to track, and rescue if needed, emergency personnel:
Who enter a structure involved in fire beyond the incipient stage.
Who fall victim to an unstable situation (e.g. confined space, collapse) at a emergency scene.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

7. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Level 2 RIT
A team consisting of a minimum of four trained members
Duties are the same as Level 1 RIT
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

8. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
A verbal notification to the IC that immediate action is required to rescue or assist emergency personnel operating in emergency incidents.
May be declared by the individual(s) in trouble or someone who identifies an individual(s) is in trouble.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

9. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
RIT Group Leader
RIT Leader who reports – communicates directly to Incident Command
Performs no other function but tracking, RIT and/or Accountability if needed.
Coordinates with Safety and Accountability Officers, but reports directly to command as noted on the next slide
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

10. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Command
Operations
Safety
Group Leader
Optional
Accountability
Fire Crews
RIT 1
RIT 2
RIT
RIT may report
Directly to command
When no RIT Group
Leader has been assigned
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

11. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
RIT Kit: (Rescue equipment)
Desirable equipment
Radio
Secured hand-line
Forcible entry tools
Rescue rope
Hand light
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

12. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
RIT Kit: (Rescue equipment)
After conducting a size-up of the incident scene, RIT may determine the need for additional equipment not listed.
RIT shall attempt to obtain this equipment by utilizing the apparatus at the incident scene.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

13. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
IMPLEMENTATION:
RIT shall be implemented during the initial stages of an incident.
Multiple RITs may be established on large incidents (numbers assigned like sectors)
RIT Group Leader will report to command.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

14. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
IMPLEMENTATION:
RIT members must maintain visual or voice contact with one another at all times.
RIT shall announce, via radio to Command, that RIT has been established.
RIT members shall utilize the information from their on-going scene size-up to help determine the type of rescue that they may encounter.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

15. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Exceptions to Two-In/Two-Out:
If the initial attack personnel find a known life hazard situation where immediate action could prevent the loss of life, deviation from the two-in/two-out standard may be permitted. OR
If rescue or suppression operations are initiated without an RIT in place, Command shall be notified and a RIT shall be established as available crews can be assigned.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

16. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Anytime emergency personnel operating on an incident feel they are trapped, injured or lost, they shall signal a MAYDAY alert.
Immediately following the MAYDAY alert, those personnel shall activate their “PASS Device alarm”
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

17. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
They shall transmit the “ MAYDAY” via radio by announcing in increments of three “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY” followed by a radio message to Command identifying themselves along with their location, and situation.
Information pertaining to the location should be as specific as possible.
Repeat until acknowledged.
Radio or anyone else who feels this transmission is not being heard should immediately relay this information to command.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

18. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
MAYDAY Example
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is Sector 4, I am located on the first floor Charlie side and a firefighter has fallen through the floor into the basement, send help”.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

19. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Command shall deploy the necessary resources needed to assist with a rescue.
Other members operating on the scene should be aware of the “MAYDAY” situation. However, they must continue with their assigned tasks. The task they are currently performing may very well limit injury to the person or persons in distress as well as assist the RIT team.
Upon the MAYDAY call, a Personal Accountability Report (PAR) shall be initiated.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

20. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Procedures
RIT will only be deployed upon orders from the Incident Commander
When RIT is deployed, the rescue shall come under the command of the RIT Group Leader.
Other members must continue with their assigned tasks.
Fire suppression radio traffic must be limited during RIT operations so that Command, RIT and those requiring help can communicate.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

21. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Procedures
A backup RIT shall be established whenever the initial RIT is deployed.
Upon the report of a lost or trapped firefighter(s) the RIT Group Leader will immediately concentrate RIT members efforts on rescue and abandon support activities.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

22. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Implementation
The individual(s) who has declared a MAYDAY or is missing shall be identified from the PAR.
RIT shall be deployed to the last known location of the lost or trapped personnel.
RIT should follow hose lines or routine search patterns and consider standard operating tactics while searching for lost personnel.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

23. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Procedures
When RIT locates a downed firefighter(s) they shall notify Command as to who they have located, their location and status.
RIT shall advise the actions being taken to remove them or if additional assistance is needed.
If a self-rescue or a quick grab and go rescue is not possible, RIT members shall use the “AWARE” principle.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

24. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
AWARE Principle:
Trapped emergency responder’s hopes of survival depend on the following four critical needs.
1. Air: RIT should first provide the victim with a redundant (primary & secondary) supply of air.
2. Water: If the rescue involves fire, the next consideration is to provide a defensible space for the victim by using a hose line or lines for protection.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

25. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
AWARE Principle:
3. A Radio: If the victim is conscious and able to communicate, RIT may want to provide the trapped victim with a radio to monitor his condition.
4. Extrication: Removal of the victim.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

26. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Procedures
RIT should give the estimated time it will take to complete the rescue and advise Command of their plan.
Command shall assign additional Rapid Intervention Teams to assist as needed.
A Level II RIT shall be in place as soon as staffing allows during an active RIT operation.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

27. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

28. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
Level 1 RIT will consist of no less than ___________ trained firefighter(s). 1 2 3 4
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

29. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
3. A team consisting of a minimum of four trained firefighters whose duties are to track, and rescue if needed, emergency personnel that enter a structure involved in fire beyond the incipient stage.
Level 1 RIT
Level 2 RIT
Level 3 RIT
Level 4 RIT
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

30. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
4. Trapped emergency responder’s hopes of survival may depend on which of the following four needs?
Air
Water
Radio
Extrication
All the above
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

31. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
6. A verbal notification to the Incident Commander that immediate action is required to rescue or assist emergency personnel operating in emergency incident.
PAR
RIT
MAYDAY
AWARE
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

32. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ
8. A report given to command or Operations that all members of the crew are accounted for.
TIC
AWARE
IDLH
PAR
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

33. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

34. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
Level 1 RIT will consist of no less than ___________ trained firefighter(s). 1 2 3 4
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

35. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
3. A team consisting of a minimum of four trained firefighters whose duties are to track, and rescue if needed, emergency personnel that enter a structure involved in fire beyond the incipient stage.
Level 1 RIT
Level 2 RIT
Level 3 RIT
Level 4 RIT
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

36. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
4. Trapped emergency responder’s hopes of survival may depend on which of the following four needs?
Air
Water
Radio
Extrication
All the above
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

37. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
6. A verbal notification to the Incident Commander that immediate action is required to rescue or assist emergency personnel operating in emergency incident.
PAR
RIT
MAYDAY
AWARE
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

38. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
QUIZ Answers
8. A report given to command or Operations that all members of the crew are accounted for.
TIC
AWARE
IDLH
PAR
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

39. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
IMPLEMENTATION:
The RIT Group Leader is responsible for the tracking of the Entry Teams.
RIT Group Leader shall work with the Accountability Officer when possible.
If Accountability Officer is not available, the RIT Group Leader will be responsible for tracking entry teams.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures

40. Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures
Rapid Intervention Implementation
RIT Group Leader shall compare information with the Accountability Officer in determining the last known location of the missing personnel.
In the event that an Accountability Officer has not been assigned the RIT Group Leader will handle accountability.
Rapid Intervention Team & MAYDAY Procedures